Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Featured Artist: Margaret Farrell Bruno


A little late, and my apologies... is a look at the life and art of one of the GJWP, Peggy Bruno.  Aside from just having her first grandchild, Peggy has a lot of star-power behind her.  She is a past President of the North River Arts Society, and is a member of 3 prestigious pastel societies, which you can read about HERE. 



Here's what Peggy had to say about her journey

1.       Describe your personal Art Journey-
Even as a very young child, I always had pencil and paper in hand. The summer of my senior year in high school, I was given the opportunity to apprentice under a local professional Scituate artist. Every day, I would ride my bicycle to the Minot Beach area to her studio and also once a week we would be joined by this wonderful group of professional artists. We would work in plein air and from models using pastels and oils. What an incredible learning opportunity that was. From there, I headed to NYC to attend and graduate from Pratt Institute, a professional Fine Art and Architectural school. I launched a three-pronged career as a fine artist, portraitist, and illustrator. My love of the ocean, light, atmosphere and South Shore brought me back to the area and is a tremendous influence in my work.


2.   What brings you the most joy while painting?
Honestly, the whole process of painting gives me so much joy. You start with this idea, whether it be in the form of the landscape or portrait presented before you or a conceptual idea you are challenging yourself with and you work out the design and/or sketches and then you jump into the heart of the painting. It is both frightening and exhilarating. I guess you could compare it to a roller coaster ride. If you make it to the end without being flung out of the car, its so much fun. And of course you want to run and get back in line again.

3.What is different (and special) about your art?
There are often times that Im looking for challenges when I paint. Ways to possibly present a scene or idea using a different approach. I try to emphasize that aha moment that made me want to paint a particular scene or portrait. This can be achieved in two manners, boldly and deliberately or softly and subtly. Choosing this bold or subtle path many times defines the piece and offers that special quality. 


4. Describe your inspiration (muse)
In describing my personal inspiration I have to simply present my Artists statement, I am continually humbled and honored with the beauty of color and light whether it be on the soft face of a precious child or on a majestic landscape before me. I hope to always consider it a privilege, a blessing and a challenge to be inspired by that beauty.
As far as artists who have been an influence, there are so many, both contemporary and historically. A few historical artists that come to mind and are also an influence to many are Sargent, Sorolla, Zorn, with their masterful handling of brushstrokes, color, line and the figure itself and also Edgar Paynes landscapes with his glorious use of broken color and perfect values. A few contemporary artists I admire are Harvey Dinnerstein, Burton Silverman and Daniel Greene. There are so many talented artists nowadays it is hard to name only a few.


5. Any personal statement/life motto/ favorite quote?
There is one quote I recently read that Ill mention since I have already defined my Artists statement. I am currently reading Andrew Wyeths biography A Secret Life by Richard Meryman. A very interesting book, but I was enthralled when the author quoted Wyeth as saying, People are a marvelous mystery to me. I often see them in color; some are ruddy and some are silver gray. Theyre moods in themselves. To me everyone is as important as everyone else; everything is as important as everything else. In some way a tree is just as important as a person, in its own life.
The last two lines, especially, spoke to both the human rights activist and the conservationist in me. We need more compassion, kindness and generosity for our fellow humans and we are losing a battle to save our landscapes and wildlife that serve as the subject matter in many of our paintings. Hopefully an artists works will still reflect our surroundings in our future and not be a reminder of what once was.



Monday, December 1, 2014

November Challenge: "Magical"

"Magical Winter" 10"x10" by Paula Villanova


"Magical Moonlight" 6x4" by Kelley MacDonald


"Magical Light" 6"x6" by Jeanne McFarland


Magical Farm by Page Pearson Railsback

"The Lights Of Christmas", mixed media by Pamela Copeman

"December Glow"  oil  8 x 6  by Jody Regan

"Magical Moment"  by Margaret Farrell Bruno

"Holy Cow IV" by Tori Chesley Brega

'Magical Moon'






















"museum door magic"
Reverse glass painting on the doors of the Art Complex Museum, Duxbury
By Sally Dean

Saturday, November 1, 2014

October Challenge: "Neighbor"

"Waiting for the Bus"  12" x 12" acrylic by Paula Villanova


"Newspaper Boy in the Hood" 6"x6" acrylic by

"A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood" 6x6 Inch Acrylic by Kelley MacDonald


"Little Neighbor" 8X8 inch Pastel by Margaret Farrell Bruno


"Halloween" 6x6 oil by Mary Sheehan Winn


"Hannah's Pumpkin"  6 x 12  oil by Jody Regan



BARBARA'S GOLD 5x4 by Page Pearson Railsback



"By The Bay" 6 X 6 by Jeanne MacFarland


"Abbey & Charlie" 6x6 inch acrylic by Tori Chesley Brega

"Neighbors Forever And Always", 6x6 inch oil by Pamela Copeman

Friday, October 24, 2014

Inside Tori Chesley Brega's Art World

This is the start of a monthly feature where we take you inside the art world of the Girls who Just Wanna Paint! We're starting with Tori Chesley Brega, who lives on the water on the South Shore of Boston.  Welcome, and enjoy reading about Tori and her beautiful work!

Hi, Tori!  Could you describe your personal art journey?
I had the good fortune to grow up in a very creative household.  My Mom and Dad were respectively artisan and architect; decorative and functional items of many types were often designed and made by hand, along with very inventive re-purposing of all kinds of stuff.  I had great art teachers in high school, and went on to study  equal parts fine art and illustration at Skidmore College and Syracuse University, rounded out by liberal arts.  I've been a working visual fine artist  and illustrator since graduation in 1979, and also done creative work on the side in visual merchandizing, gallery, framing, and culinary field;  This not only supplemented art income, but was good discipline in, and excersize of, the creative process.  Recently I have been doing mural work, which has provided both the liberation and challenges of working  on a much greater scale, and also brought my fine art, designer, and illustration souls together at last.

What brings you the most joy while painting?
What brings me the most joy while painting are the hours when I am like a conduit through which the creative act flows like water;  All accumulated knowledge becomes like second nature and everything fits together like a beautiful finished puzzle.


 What is different (and special) about your art?
I have slowly experimented my way  through many drawing, painting, and 3-D mediums;  Each has a different strength, joy,  and lesson to teach, and seems to inform the next.  The current result is a combination of  energetic drawing with paint, layered with  glazing, on toned grounds that often include softly glowing metallic pigments.  I think storytelling content of and humor in  my work has been enhanced by time spent illustrating.   Especially with the murals, I like to create an exotic environment with characters, where the viewer can make up their own stories from what they see; like a big rectangular picture book.

Where do you get your inspiration?
I am greatly inspired by the beauty of the natural world and it's creatures, by human and canine friends and family, the work of visual artists of all kinds and periods, music, great food, film, and animation.

Where are you from and how does your background influence your work?
I have always lived near water, been by it, in it, and on it.  There is big visual magic in the constantly changing relationships between earth, sky, and water;  it is probably the most common denominator in my work.

Favorite quote/inspiration?
"For whatsoever from one place doth fall, is with the tide unto another brought, for there is nothing lost, that may be found, if sought."  from Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queen"


Wednesday, October 1, 2014

September Challenge: "Expression"


"Status Quo"  12'12 acrylic by Paula Villanova

"Selfie" 6x8 Inch Oil by Kelley MacDonald


"Pensive" 6x6 Inch Oil by Pamela Copeman



"Moon Indiglow" 6x6 inch Acrylic by Victoria Chesley Brega

"
MOVING FORWARD 28x28
Page Pearson Railsback


Summer memory 22"x30" acrylic on arches 300lb WC paper
by Sally Dean


"Here's Looking at Ewe"  8 x 10  oil on board by Jody Regan


"Fall Expressions" 6"X6" pastel on board by Margaret Farrell Bruno

"Abstract Watercolor of Wendell"
9x12 watercolor
Mary Sheehan Winn

Monday, September 1, 2014

August 2014 Challenge: "Water"

"Ripples" 6x6 Inch Oil by Kelley MacDonald

"Reflection" 6x6 Inch Oil by Victoria Chesley Brega

"Pink Waves At Sunset" 6x6 Inch Oil by Pamela Copeman

"Walton's Cove" by Paula Villanova


"Crow Island Preserve" 12"X12" pastel by Margaret Farrell Bruno

"At Lake George" 8x8"acrylic  by Sally Dean 

"Water's Edge" 6X8 by Jeanne MacFarland

"Koi Pond"  9 x 12  oil  by Jody Regan


KITCHEN SINK 8x8 by Page Pearson Railsback


Water 
6x6 paper collage

February Challenge: "Norwell"

"Winter" 12x8 inches by Page Railsback "Flower Farm Greenhouse" 9"X12" oil by Margaret Farrell Bruno The beaut...